BBC apology over suggestion that Norris McWhirter was a fascist

David Baddiel and Alan Davies discussion about Norris McWhirter on Radio Five
Live was in breach of the BBC's editorial guidelines.

Norris McWhirter was a regular on The Record BreakersPhoto: Eleanor Bentall

Tim Walker. Edited by Claire Fox

6:30AM BST 21 Jun 2011

Fans of Norris McWhirter, the late co-author of the Guinness Book of Records, couldn’t believe their ears when they heard Alan Davies, the comedian, suggest that he was a fascist on Radio Five Live. News that the BBC has now apologised has come as a relief to them.

Mandrake can disclose that an investigation concluded that the BBC was in breach of its editorial guidelines in respect of the discussion between Davies and his guest David Baddiel. Baddiel talked of how McWhirter and his brother Ross, who was murdered by the IRA, set up the Freedom Association, which he called a “slightly posher version of the BNP”.

“Was he a Brown Shirt with Mosley or whatever they were called?” Davies asked, referring to Oswald Mosley.

Robert Halfon and other Tory MPs demanded an apology for the “unjustified attack” on a “passionate campaigner for civil liberties”. Mark Thompson, the BBC director-general says: “Clearly there are lessons to be learned here and I can assure you I will be discussing this matter with the controller of Radio Five Live.”